In 2020, I started volunteering for Students Run Philly Style, a youth mentorship non-profit, after seeing the blue shirts run around my neighborhood in city for a couple of years. I was then lucky enough to get involved with MileUp program, a special team that isn’t associated with a school but rather partners with the Philly DA in a diversion program for students that have had run-ins with the law. Through that program, MileUp student runners get their charges dropped, restitution paid off and their records expunged - giving them a clean slate to succeed in life. As with all SRPS teams, these students learn the importance of setting goals, self discipline and hard work while giving them a support structure of volunteer mentors to help them with their training and every day life.
If you’ve talked to me about running in the past 4 years, you know how much this organization has meant to me. It was a gut punch not being able to be a mentor after moving out of the city but I am so lucky to support the organization as a charity runner this year in the Philly Marathon. This will be my 3rd time running the marathon in Philly and I can’t wait to run with SRPS across my chest again.
As a charity runner, the amount that is raised will directly support our running & youth mentorship program. The leadership and volunteers that make up SRPS are some of the best, most selfless people in the world and they deserve all the financial support they can get so they can continue making a difference in our students lives - teaching them important life skills/lessons through running.
Appreciate any and all support as I try to not only make my fundraising goal - but exceed it!
Thanks,
JD
